Key ring



0d. 12, 1948. w, JOHNSON 2,451,091

KEY RING Filed March 18, 1946 Patent ed Get. 12, 1943 new RING xemlWhitaker Johnson, Arlington oeunty, Va. Application March is, mmseml No.055,093

This invention relates to key-rings such as are commonly employed tohold a bunch of keys for greater safety and convenience in the carryingand handling thereof. More specifically, this invention relates tokey-rings having means by which keys may be applied-to and withdrawnfrom the key-ring. I

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a key-ring whereinthe keys may be applied and withdrawn from the key-ring with increasedease and facility.

Another object of this invention is to provide .a key-ring wherein thekeys are secure against accidental withdrawal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key-ring with means ofidentification or advertisement in connection with an opening device.

The prior art includes United States Patent 110,765,754 (issued toSiersdorfer, July 26, 19o4 in which is disclosed a circular key-ring ofelastic material openable by means of a cam-faced opening plate whichmay be forced between opposite inner points on the ring on oppositesides of the meeting ends of the ring in order to separate the latterand thus permit the removal or application of a key. Such opening platecan also serve to carry an identification or advertisement. Such prioropening devise lacks a positive means of assuring that, when the openingdevice is being forced into operative position,

Claims. (o 1o'-4ss) receive operative pressure than is a relativelysharp edge. In some forms of the present 2nven-\ 7 tion, the use of awheel for a cam serves to'de-.-

crease operational friction. The present invention essentially consistsin. the combination, with a resilient ring divided at one point andhaving its meeting ends normallyv the opening device will not movebeyond such operative position and become again in loose or inoperativeposition on the key-ring; If such opening device is not pressed farenough between the opposite inner points of the ring; the ring will notopen sufllciently. If the opening device is pressed too far, the ringwill snap closed before any key can be removed or applied to the ring.Such prior device may also be uncomfortable to the user, since itrequires the user to press against the relatively sharp edge of theopening plate, and insufilcient means are provided toeither' decrease orovercome operational friction.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and discloses a morepractical camoperated key-ring. In the present invention, a

stop is provided to prevent the opening device from being forced beyondthe operative posi-' tion. The stop also provides an operative leverextending longitudinally of the opening device and appreciably beyondthe cam-surface, providing greater operative leverage. Such operativelever is also .readily adapted to present or carry a flat surface, whichis more suitable to pressed together by the resiliency or the mate--rial, of an opening-device carried on the ring and having a cam and atone end of said cam a stop, which opening device may be forced betweenopposite inner points on the ring on opposite sides of the meeting endsthereof to 'sepa-= rate the latter, the said stop facilitating the'mov-' ing of the operative device precisely into full, operativeposition on the ring, in which position. the meeting ends of the ringare at maximum separation, yet preventing the opening device from beingforced beyond the operative position, thereby permitting the removal orapplication of a key. The stop may serve also as an operational lever tofacilitate pressing the opening device into. and out of operativeposition. The operative lever may be provided with a flat surface toreceive operational pressure. The cam may be either acam-surface of theopening device, or a wheel positioned on the opening device so as toserve as a cam. i

The invention is illustratively exemplified in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

' Figure 1 is a perspetive view showing one embodiment of the key-ringwith the opening device in idle or inoperative position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the same embodiment of thekey-ring with the opening device in operative position, wherein the ringis opened for the application or removal of a ey:

Figure 3 is a plan view of the opening device detached; i

Figure 4 is a lower edge view of the opening de vice shown in Figure 3;r

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modification of the opening device shown inFigures 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a lower edge view of the opening device shown in Figure 5:Figure 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the opening devicedetached: Figure 8 is a lower edge view-oi the opening device shown inFigure 7; r

Figure 9 is a plan view of amodification of' made'of any suitablematerial possessing the neeessary strength and resiliency, forgexample.a

good grade of steel; The ring is divided at a point therein, preferablywith the meeting ends 2 and I being provided with serrated teeth adaptedto inter-mesh when the meeting ends of the ring come together, therebyassuring against accidental removal of keys when the ring is closed.

Y Alternatively, one of the meeting ends may be provided with a recessor socket while the other meeting end is provided with a tapering point.

7 Or, other shapes of meeting ends may be used.

Two keys i3 and it are shown mounted on the ring in the usual manner.The opening device consists of a plate ,or strip I in one end formounting the opening device on the ring, while the opposite end has acam-wheel v a,4s1,oo1 1 l of metal or other suitable material, with ahole O mounted thereon, and an extension 8. The'rim of wheel 9 extendsfrom below one longitudinal edge of the opening device and across aportion of the width thereof and protrudes also beyond the end thereofexcept for that portion thereof forming the extension 9 and flat surface9. On extension 8 and adjoining said wheel 8 is a stopping surface I.Extension 8 also serves as an operative lever and carries the flatsurface 9 at right angles' to the plane of the plate. The flat surface}centers over wheel 8, and is adapted wheel 6 which is at position llengages the ring.v

whereby the opposite sides of the ring are sepa- 4 rated and held apart.In performing this operation, surface 9 and that part of the ringopposite hole 5 may be squeezed together by the thumb and fingers of onehand: The stopping surface 1 stops the motion of the opening devicethrough the ring at a point at which the meeting ends of the ring areheld sufficiently apart for the removal or application of a key. Thestopping surface I also prevents the motion of the opening device toofar through the ring. whereby the meeting ends of the ring would be nolonger held apart.

when the meeting ends of the ring have been placed in separatedposition. as described above, and as shown in Figure 2, then a key. suchas ll,

lying on that side of the opening device on which the meeting ends ofthe ring have been opened may be readily removed. Similarly, keys may beapplied to the :ring. It may be desired that keys such as It should notbe removed, in which case 0 4 each end. h plate opposite end from thewheel la. The two toll edges to of e extension to of the platlas la pm;

'vide a two-fo d edge surface to receive operative pressure. Thismodification provides a steadiermounting for the wheel. Thismodification prehas an aperture in at the sents no projections and sowould cause less wear to the pocket of the user.

in Figures '1 and a, parts corres ondingmiwse hereinbefore describedhave been designated by numerals already used, with the suiiix b.

l iguresvand 8 illustrate another embodiment of the opening device, inwhich the cam-wheel' is replaced by a cam-surface Nb and a, straightsurface lib, whereby, respectively, the ends of f the ring may beseparated and may be main-.

tained apart. The stopping surface lb serves to stop the motion of theopening device relative to the ring at the point at which maximumseparation of the ends of the ring has been achieved.

The flat surface Oh. for receiving operative pressure, is provided as aresult of a 90-degree twist in extension 8b; this method oil-providingafiat surface assures the proper alignment of the flat 7 surface withthe cam surface liib and straight surface lib. While the embodimentshown in Figures 7 and 8 lacks a wheel to decrease operational friction.this embodiment is more compact, simpler and more economical to makethan v to receive operative pressure. The pendant por distinguishes thismodification from that: in'lgures 'i and -8.' The pendant portion areserves to provide a blunt end to the opening device; yet

neither the stopping surface 1c nor the operative lever portionjc, withsurface to, have to be omitsuch keys are .left on the other side of theopenv pushed into a disengaged position, whereupon the ends 2 and 8 ofthe'ring will snap together. In Figures 5 and 6, parts corresponding tothose hereinbefore described have been desig- Flgures 5 and 6 illustratea modification of the hereinbefore described opening device. In Figures5 and 6, the cam-wheel 8a is mounted between two parallel platesla,which are ioincd at nated by numerals already used. with the suffix a.

ted to provide a blunt and to the opening device. By contrast, inFigures 7 and 8, the; operative lever lb provides a relatively morepointed end. The biunter end shown in Figures 9 and 10 will cause lesswear upon the pocket of the user. The modification shown in Figures 9and 10 is also particularly suitable for carrying advertising or anidentification, since a larger area is available. namely, space on bothsides of the cam-notch. In the other forms of the invention, space wasavailable on only one side of the cam.

In any of the forms of the opening device,

the surface which receives operative pressure may be of any of thehereinbefore disclosed types or of other suitable types, flat orotherwise.

The side of any of the hereinbefore disclosed metals, or a plating ofprecious metals may be applied, or other suitable materials may beempioyed.

While the present invention has been detion I20 beneath lever portion iswhat chiefly scribed by reference to specified forms thereof. it

will be understood that many changes-and modiflcations may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

WhatI claim is: I

l. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening membercarried thereby having a cam adapted to force apart the opposite sidesof the ring, whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be separated, anda stop adjacent to said cam to prevent the movement of the openingmember relative to the ring in one direction beyond the position atwhich the meeting ends of the ring are maintained separated.

2. The combination with a resilient key-ring,

- of an opening member carried thereby having a cam adapted to forceapart the opposite sides of the ring, whereby the meeting ends of thering may be separated, and a stop adjacent to said cam to prevent themovement of the opening member relative to the ring in one directionbeyond the position at which the meeting ends of the ring are maintainedseparated, said stop extending longitudinally of the opening member toprovide an operative lever.

3. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an openin membercarried thereby having a cam adapted to force apart the opposite sidesof the ring, whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be separated, anda stop adjacent tosaid cam to prevent the movement of the opening memberrelative to the ring in one direction beyond the position at which themeeting ends,

of the ring are maintained separated, said stop extending longitudinallyof the opening member I surface adapted to force apart the oppositesides of the ring, whereby the meeting ends of the ring may beseparated, another surface of said notch being adapted to serve as astop to prevent the movement of the opening member relative to the ringin one direction beyond the position at which the meeting ends of thering are maintained separated.

5. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening membercarried thereby, said opening member having a wheel mounted thereonadapted to cam apart the opposite sides of,the ring, whereby the meetingends of the ring may be separated, and a stop adjacent to said wheel toprevent the movement of the opening member relative to the ring in onedirection beyond the position at which the meeting ends of the ring aremaintained separated.

6. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening membercarried thereby, said opening member having a. wheel mounted. thereonadapted to cam apart the opposite sides or the ring, whereby the meetingends of the ring may be separated, and a stop adjacent to said wheel toprevent the movement of the opening member relative to the rin in onedirection beyond the position at which the meeting ends of the ring aremaintained separated, said stop extending longitudinally of the openingmember to provide an operative lever.

7. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening membercarried thereby, said opening member having a wheel mounted thereonadapted to cam apart the opposite sides of the ring, whereby the meetingends of the ring may be separated, and a stop adjacent to said wheel toprevent the movement of the opening member relative to the ring in onedirection beyond the position at which themeeting ends of the ring 6 aremaintained separated, said stop extending longitudinally of the openingmember to provide an operative lever and having a flat surface adaptedto receive operative pressure.

8. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening memberapertured at one end to receive the ring and provided at its oppositeend with a wheel mounted thereon, said wheel bein adapted to cam apartthe opposite sides of the ring, whereby the meeting ends of the ring maybe separated, and a stop adjacent to said wheel to prevent the movementof the opening member relative to the ring in one direction beyond theposition at which the meeting ends of the ring are maintained separated.

9. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening memberapertured at one end to receive the ring and provided at its oppositeend with a wheel in! mted thereon, said wheel being, adapted to camapart the opposite sides of the ring, whereby the meeting ends of thering may be separated, and a stop adjacent to said wheel to prevent themovement of the opening member relative to the ring in one directionbeyond the position at which the meeting ends of the ring are maintainedseparated, said stop extending longitudinally of the opening member toprovide an operative lever.

10. The combination with a circularkey-ring of resilient material, of anopening member comprising a plate mounted at one end on the ring,

a wheel mounted at the opposite end of the plate,

- sa d wheel being adapted to cam apart the opposi e sides of the ring,whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be separated, and a stopprovided upon said plate adjacent to said wheel to prevent the movementof the opening member relative to the ring in one direction beyond theposition at which the meeting ends of the ring are maintained separated.

11. The combination with a circular key-ring of resilient material, ofan opening member comprising a plate mounted at one end on the ring, awheel mounted at the opposite end of the plate, said wheel being adaptedto cam apart the opposite sides of the ring, whereby the meetin ends ofthe ring may be separated, and a stop provided upon said plate adjacentto said wheel to prevent the movement of the opening member relative tothe ring in one direction beyond the position at which the meetingends-of the ring are maintained separated, said stop extendinglongitudinally beyond the plate to provide an operative lever.

12. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening memberapertured at one end to receive the ring, and provided on its oppositeend with a cam-surface whereby the opposite apart, and a stop adjacentto one end of the cam-surface to prevent movement of theopening memberrelative to the ring in. one direction beyond the position at which themeeting ends of the ring are maintained separated.

13. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening memberapertured at one end to receive the ring. and provided on its oppositeend with a cam-surface whereby the opposite sides and meeting ends ofthe ring may be forced apart, and a stop adjacent to one end .of thecam-surface to prevent movement of the opening member relative to thering in one direction beyond the position at which the meeting ends ofthe ring are maintained separated, said stop extending longitudinally ofthe opening member of a plate apertured at one end to receive the ringand provided on its opposite end with a came-surface. whereby theopposite sides and meeting ends of the ring may be forced apart,adjoining said cam-surface a straight surface at right angles to thelongitudinal axi of the plate, whereby the forced apart ends of the ringmay be maintained separated, and adjoining said straight surface a stopto prevent movement of the plate .relative to the ring in one directionbeyond the position at which the ends of the rin are maintainedseparated.

15. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of a plate apertured atone end to receive the rin and provided on its opposite end with acam-surface, whereby the opposite sides and meeting ends of the ring maybe forced apart, adjoining said cam-surface a straight surface at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the plate, whereby the forced apartends of the ring may be maintained separated, and adjoinin said straightsurface a stop to prevent movement of the plate relative to the ring inone direction beyond the position at which theends of the ring aremaintained separated, said stop extending longitudinally beyond theplate to provide an operative lever.

16. The combination with a circular key-ring of resilient material, ofan opening member in the form of a plate of slightly greater length thanthe diameter of the ring, said plate being mounted on the ring at oneend and at its opposite end having a cam-face extending inwardly from alongitudinal edge of the plate, whereby the opposite sides and meetingends of the ring may be forced apart, said cam-face terminating in astraight face at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plate,whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be held apart, said straightface terminatingin a stop, whereby is prevented any motion of theopening member relative to the rin in one direction beyond the positionat which the meeting ends of the ring are held apart.

17. The combination with a circular key-ring of resilient material, ofan opening member in the form of a plate of slightly greater length thanthe diameter of the ring, said plate being mounted on the ring at oneend and at its opposite end 7 having a cam-face extending inwardly froma longitudinal edge of the plate, whereby the opposite sides and meetingends of the ring may be forced apart, said cam-face terminating in astraight face at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plate,whereby the meeting ends of motion of the opening member relative to thering in one direction beyond the position at which the meeting ends ofthe ring are held apart, said stop extending longitudinally beyond theplate to provide an operative lever.

18. The combination with a resilient key -ring, of an opening memberaperatured at one end to receive the ring, and provided with a notch,one surface of said notchbeing adapted to serve as a cam to force apartthe opposite sides of the ring, whereby the meeting ends of the ring maybe separated, another surface of said notch being adapted to serve as astop to prevent the movement of the opening member relative to the ringin one direction beyond the position at which the meeting ends of thering are maintained separated.

19. The combination with a resilient key-ring, of an opening membermounted on the ring at one end, and provided with a notch having acamsurface extending inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the openingmember and adapted to force apart the opposite sides of the ring,whereby the meeting ends of the ring may be separated, ad-

.joining said cam-surface a straight surface at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the open.

ing member, the straight surface being adapted to maintain the meetinends of the ring in separated position, and-adjoining said straightsurface a stop-surface adapted to prevent the movement of the openingmember relative to the ring in one direction beyond the position atwhich the meeting ends of the ring are maintained separated.

20. The combination with a circular key-ring of resilient material, ofan opening member in the form of a plate, said plate having an apertureto receive the ring and a notch spaced apart REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the I ,flie of this patent:

the ring may be held apart, saidstraight face terminating in a stopwhereby is prevented any UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

